Study in Canada

Study

As previously mentioned, Canada is one of the top study locations for students who want to study abroad. You might be wondering why this is the case if you still haven’t been able to research why you should study there. From being more affordable than other study locations to the incomparable cultural diversity, there are so many more reasons why you should choose Canada as your study abroad location. Read on to find out exactly why! 

Why should you study in Canada?

There are many reasons why you should study in Canada. From being affordable to having great cultural diversity, it is the perfect country to study abroad in. 

Affordable compared to other study locations

One of the main reasons students choose to study in Canada, besides the exceptional quality of learning at universities, is Canada’s tuition fees. Even though they aren’t incredibly cheap, they are comparatively cheaper than tuition fees in the US or UK. They also offer many scholarships by different entities, so it may be easy to find a scholarship. Scroll down to read more about scholarships in the last section of this country profile. 

Cultural diversity

Another reason to study abroad in Canada is the fact that it’s a cultural melting pot. People are friendly and accepting of different ethnic groups and cultures because they are used to dealing with people from different lifestyles and backgrounds. This peaceful sense of coexisting and cultural diversity doesn’t exist in any other country, with over 50 per cent of Canadians not speaking English as their first language. 

There are also many cool festivals and events to attend during the course of your study, that you’ll find many fellow students also attending. Examples of these include the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Poutine Week and Calgary annual stampede. 

Immigration opportunities

There are also many opportunities for immigration for students who have studied there. After graduation, students are allowed to stay and work in Canada for up to 3 years, if they choose to do so. It’s easy to apply for permanent residence afterwards. 

Safe and peaceful

Named one of the safest countries in the world, Canada has a very high quality of life for residents there, with excellent healthcare, infrastructure and education systems. It’s also ranked the 6th most peaceful country in the world, which means you can rest easy knowing you are safe and secure. 

How much does it cost?

For international students, tuition fees are the main fees you should worry about. Average undergraduate programs cost from 13,000 to 20,000 dollars, with humanity and business degrees typically on the lower end of the tuition cost spectrum. Engineering and medical programs are usually more expensive than other degree programs. 

Postgraduate degrees such as masters cost from 17 to 25,000 dollars while doctorates cost from 7,000 to 15,000 dollars—specialized programs like an MBA cost from 30,000 to 40,000 USD. 

Living in Canada

Living

 

When it comes to living in Canada during your time as a student, there are costs of living you should also take into consideration. From accommodation to utilities to transportation, here’s everything you need to know about living costs as an international student. 

 

Accommodation

There are many options for accommodation for students, with varying prices based on the amenities and services included. 

 

Student dorms 

 

The first option for students accommodation is in the student dorms. Some schools have these dorms on campus, while some have them nearby. There are two types of student dormitories: regular dorms and townhouses. Traditional student dorms are significant buildings with apartments for many students inside, while townhouses are separate and usually have an average of five students.

 

Both accommodations usually have a cafeteria nearby, and both might include utilities, or you may have to pay them extra, separate from rental costs.  

 

Normal student dorms typically have shared areas for students in the building to use, from entertainment facilities to cooking areas to gyms and showering facilities. 

 

On the other hand, townhouses have three to six rooms for each of the students living there and an area with a shared kitchen and lounge area. 

 

Off-Campus Shared Apartment 

Another type of accommodation is an off-campus shared apartment that has a style similar to a townhouse. It has separated bedrooms and a shared kitchen, bathroom, and lounge area. 

 

Rental costs for these types of housing vary according to the city you are living in and the facilities offered there. 

 

Homestay

Another idea for accommodation when it comes to international students is living at a homestay. A homestay is a system where you live with a host family, so you are really able to immerse into Canadian culture. Hosts usually provide a room and serve your meals and offer internet access, among other utilities. There are usually options for the plans without meals. 

 

Students are typically assigned to Homestays 30 to 50 minutes away from school by bus or train.

 

Homestays typically cost a placement fee of 200 USD and cost from 700 to 1000 USD dollars per month for room and board.

 

Apartment Rentals

Finally, there’s the option for students to stay in furnished or non-furnished apartments. You can use websites like Airbnb or craigslist or look on Facebook groups for rentals, along with other places. If you are choosing something online, make sure to read reviews and not pay any money before you are sure that it’s not a scam. These rooms are typically furnished, especially if you rent off a website like Airbnb. 

 

You can also rent an unfurnished apartment, but this may be not easy at the beginning of your stay in Canada. Instead, you can choose to share an apartment with other students so that you can divide the cost between you. You will typically pay from 700 USD to 2000 USD per month, and it’s more expensive in cities like Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. 

 

You might also need to pay extra costs for electricity, phone lines and cable, as they might not be included in your rental fees, so make sure you check before renting a place out what is offered in the deal.  

Other costs of living

You can expect to pay from 80 to 120 USD for transportation every month when it comes to other living costs. You should put aside around 40 dollars per month for a cell phone package with internet access. 

If your accommodation doesn’t have internet access, you can expect to pay around 50 dollars per month for Wifi. You should expect to pay about 100 dollars more for utilities. If you want to watch cable television, that’s another 25 dollars per month. Groceries for one individual cost an average of 250 dollars per month.

Universities in Canada

Universities

 

Universities in Canada are known for their excellent standard of education, which is why many students go there to study away from their home countries. 

Degrees available

There are undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees available for all students in Canada. Typically, a Bachelor’s degree usually takes students three years to complete. On the other hand, a master’s program, which they sometimes call a “grad” program, lasts anywhere from 1 to 3 years.

 

Top-ranked universities

 

Many great ones fall into the list when it comes to the top-ranked universities in Canada. They span the entire Canadian nation from the University of Toronto to the University of British Columbia to the University of Calgary. Read on to find out more about them, if you’re confused about which one to apply to. 

 

University of Toronto

 

Location: Toronto 

 

The first on the list, The University of Toronto, is one of the best universities to study abroad at. It has over 980 courses that are spread out through three campuses with over 18 faculties. The heart of recreational life is at Hart House, where independent departments may meet with their students. The University of Toronto is known for its communication theory and literature degrees. 

 

Many scientific discoveries happened at the University of Toronto, such as groundbreaking research into insulin and stem cells. They also developed the first electron microscope and carried out the first lung transplant. 

 

University of British Columbia (UBC)

 

Location: Vancouver, Okanagan

 

Second, on the list, the University of British Columbia is a great university in Canada known for its research in many different fields. The Vancouver campus has one of Canada’s most extensive libraries, a prominent nuclear physics laboratory, and a worldwide giant cyclotron. The Okanagan campus is a new one that houses many new programs, including over 60 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. 

 

The research powerhouse also manages several research centres such as a farm for food research and a particular building for democratic studies. 

 

McGill University

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

 

Another highly ranked university, McGill University, is named after James McGill, a prosperous merchant from the area. McGill university houses the nation’s first Medicine school. It currently houses 11 primary schools. 

 

A highly international school, over 30 per cent of the student body are international students. Most of these students choose to study medicine, engineering, arts, science or management, excellent departments at the University. 

 

Notable alumni that graduated from McGill University are William Shatner, Alan Emptage and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. It has also made significant scientific contributions like the radon, the first artificial cell and the Plexiglas by William Chalmer. 

 

McMaster University

Location: Hamilton 

 

Fourth on the list, McMaster University, was established in the year 1881 by banker William McCaster who paid to have it established. It currently has six excellent academic schools: School of Business, School of Social Science, School of Health Science, School of Engineering, School of Humanities and School of Natural Sciences. 

 

The school follows the McCaster Model’s educational model, a multi-disciplined and student-centric way to educate. It has also made many contributions to the scientific community when it comes to the field of health science. They house outstanding research facilities: a 780 square meter greenhouse and a brain bank. The brain bank has part of genius Albert Einstein’s brain there. 

 

University of Montreal (UdeM)

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

 

Number five on the list, the Univerisity of Montreal, is also a research institution. It is one of the largest campuses in North America, connected with HEC Montreal and Polytechnical Engineering School Montreal. The University comprises fourteen faculties with subjects like Environmental Design, Kinesiology, and Arts. High ranking subjects at the University include Medical and computer science courses.

 

The world’s number one research centre for deep learning started as part of the laboratories in the University of Montreal. It also houses a cutting edge institute for immunology and cancer research. 

Examples of other universities

Other notable universities that don’t fall into the top five list include the University of Alberta (U of A/UAlberta), University of Ottowa, University of Calgary, University of Waterloo, Western University and Simon Fraser University. 

 

Student Visa - Canada

Study Visa

 

If you want to study at a Canadian university, you must obtain a student visa. There are several steps you need to complete before you can receive your visa to be able to study in Canada. 

 

Apply at a Canadian university and get your acceptance letter

The first step is to apply to the Canadian University you want to attend and to get accepted there. Before you can start your student visa process, you’ll need to have a letter of acceptance from the institution you will attend your program at. 

Check if you need a student visa 

Before starting the official visa process, make sure you actually need a visa to study in Canada. For example, students attending courses that span less than six months don’t need a student visa. You also don’t need a study visa if you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative accredited by the Foreign affairs department. You also won’t need one if you are a citizen of another country but have your status registered in Canada.

Fill out your student visa application

As soon as you get your acceptance letter from the institution of your choice and are sure you need a visa, the next step is applying for a student visa. It is known in Canada as a “study permit”, so don’t get confused if you see it being referred to as that. 

 

The preliminary steps to obtain your student visa are applying online on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website and then sending the documents required for the application by post if you are unable to submit them online.

 

Documents needed for your application

 

As previously mentioned, you’ll also need to present your acceptance letter from your school, which the Canadian government must recognize. 

 

Other documents you’ll need to hand in are proof that you have enough money to pay for your studies (including tuition and living expenses) between 10,000 and 11,000 USD per year. You should also hand in proof that you have no criminal record. You should also present clinical documents showing that you are in good health, presenting results of medical exams if asked for. 

 

You will also need to fill in the application and present a valid passport unless you are from the USA. Two recent passport photos and a letter of intent are also required, as well as proof that you paid the student visa application fee.

 

If you study in Quebec, additionally, you will require a “Certificat d’acceptation du Québec” with both English and French translations of your document.

 

Language requirements 

There are also language requirements when it comes to studying in Canada. You’ll need proof of your proficiency in English language skills, even though it isn’t asked for in the student visa. However, you won’t even be accepted to a Canadian university without showing your English language prowess. You’ll most likely need to present a test if you don’t come from English-speaking countries.

Accepted English proficiency tests include:

IELTS Academic

TOEFL iBT

PTE Academic

C1 Advanced

 

Biometrics appointment and interview

 

A student visa requirement based on your nationality is having your biometrics taken. You will typically pay a fee of about 90 USD to have this done. Depending on your race, you might have to show up at a Visa Application Centre in your country to have your biometrics taken. Be sure to check the list of exempted nationalities before having this done, so you don’t waste your money or time if you don’t need it. 

A way to get your study permit faster than usual is to use the Student Direct Stream Service. However, this costs around 165 dollars and takes approximately 20 days to be finished. This service is only permitted for specific countries, however. These countries are China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal and Vietnam. 

Recent visa regulations state that if you have a family member in Canada who is working, visa issuers will process your study permit quicker than usual. This can happen in only two weeks, instead of the 90 days that it sometimes may take up to, if you don’t use Student Direct Stream. 

 

How to apply - Canada

How to Apply

Applying to universities in Canada is a pretty simple process but, nonetheless, one that takes time and must be done if you want to study abroad there. First, you choose your degree subject, then get your application ready, including the documents and check the requirements to make sure you are eligible. This section talks about this process in detail to know exactly what to do. 

Select degree subject

Before applying to a university, you need to choose your degree subject. There are many available in Canada, so you can pick something you are genuinely passionate about. Make sure you research well before choosing. After choosing your subject, it’s time to pick the University you want to apply to. 

Fill out your application 

The next step is coming up with a list of potential universities. Be sure to check that they are on the Canadian designated Learning institutions list, as many fake universities may try to scam students and steal their money. 

Once you have checked to ensure that your University is trustworthy, you should also look into tuition fees, as they are the most considerable bulk of costs when you study abroad. You can check for scholarships, which you can find more information about in the final section. 

When you have selected a university, you can fill out your application form and start looking at the requirements to check that you fit them.  

Make sure you fit language proficiency requirements

One of the most important requirements to fulfil is language proficiency ones. Depending on your degree program, you may need to have a certain English or French level to be accepted into the University. 

You will need to present proof of this in the form of test results. Accepted English tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced or TOEFL iBT. Official French language proficiency tests include TFI and DELF examinations. 

Prepare additional required university documents

After presenting the language proficiency requirements, you will also need to prepare additional required documents. Each institution has its own list of requirements to be handed in, so make sure to check the list for the University of your choice thoroughly before handing in your application. 

In general, though, the most common requirements are your high school or Bachelor’s Graduation certificate, The application form for the University, your CV and a letter of motivation. You may also need to prove that you will be able to finance yourself for the time you will study in Canada. 

If you are applying for master’s or PhD degrees, then you might also need letters from employers and two letters of reference.

If any of the documents are in a language other than English (or French if your program is a french one), then you will need an official translation.  

Final steps 

After you have been accepted to the University, you will need to do a few more things before going and starting studying at the University. First, you’ll need to apply for student health insurance, with the amount depending on the province you will settle in. 

You should also check if you need a study visa and apply for it as soon as possible (this has been covered in the previous section if you’d like to learn more about it). 

You should only buy your plane tickets and search for accommodation after receiving your student visa acceptance. 

A final step is that you must enrol officially at the University once you get to Canada before you start attending your classes and studying. 

 

Canadian application deadlines 

If you intend to study in Canada, you have two chances to hand in your application documents. The first enrollment cycle for winter ends on the 1st of September, while you can start applying for summer programs from mid-January.

As always, be sure to check deadlines on the website of your intended institution and program as they may differ. If you really want to be accepted, you can increase your odds by applying 8 to 12 months before your intended start date. 

 

Scholarship in Canada

Scholarship

Finally, when applying to Canadian universities, you may be interested in a scholarship if the fees are too much for you. A funny fact is that if you go the opposite route and apply for a scholarship first and get accepted, you will be automatically accepted to the institution without any additional applications needed. 

Different types of scholarships

There are many scholarships available for students in Canada, and they are different types. There are scholarships for academic excellence, prowess in athletics or artistic talents, and social work. There are also scholarships based on family financial status needs. 

The application process

Applying to scholarships typically starts after you get accepted into the University of your choice. You should write down the list of any scholarships you could be eligible for, whether academic or based on other talents. English proficiency levels also factor in as eligibility criteria when you are applying for a scholarship. 

Once you have made a list, the next step is to contact those responsible for financial aid and search for the requirements and deadlines which you will find on their websites. 

Afterwards, you will start filling out your scholarship application, along with some generally required documents. You’ll most probably need to attach these documents along with your application.

These documents include your university application form, the letter of acceptance that you received, academic transcripts from high school or previous academic degrees. You’ll also need to present documents that show your eligibility for the program and a statement of intent describing why you want this particular scholarship. 

If the scholarship program asks, further requirements may be aptitude test scores, English or French language proficiency scores, and medical examination results. 

Fully funded scholarships 

There are fully funded scholarships available for those who want to study in Canada. For example, the Lester B Pearson scholarship is offered at the University of Toronto. For example, the Lester B Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto. York University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University and Western Ontario University also have many scholarships available that you can find on their websites.